Hardness
Soft
40.5 PPM · 2.4 GPG
Local water dashboard
Official source aggregationWater quality in Greensboro, NC 27408
A source-transparent look at local hardness, associated public water systems, EPA compliance history, and the measurements that are—and are not—available for Guilford County.
1 active health-based violation
- Primary matched system
- Greensboro, City Of
- Source water
- Surface water + Groundwater
- County
- Guilford County
- Profile updated
At a glance
What the current records say
EPA quarter 2026Q2
Compliance screen
Review needed
1 active health-based record
Lead 90th percentile
0 mg/L
0% of action level
Utility match
10 systems
Serves 319,588 people system-wide
Hardness meter
How hard is the water?
Estimated local hardness
USGS hardness classification scale
40.5 PPM
Soft
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
0–59Moderate
60–120Hard
121–180Very hard
181+
Parts per million
40.5
mg/L as CaCO₃ equivalent
Grains per gallon
2.4
1 GPG ≈ 17.1 PPM
What this means at home
At 40.5 PPM, mineral scale can build up on fixtures and heating elements, reduce soap lather, and leave visible spotting. Hardness is primarily an aesthetic and appliance concern—not itself a tap-water safety rating.
USGS sites used
52
Nearest site
33.7 mi
Observation range
Jan 15, 2016–Jun 9, 2026
Estimate confidence
Low
Median of the latest qualifying hardness observation at each nearby monitoring site. Nearest monitoring location: CANE CR RESERVOIR AT DAM NR WHITE CROSS, NC (Lake, Reservoir, Impoundment).USGS source documentation ↗
Regional context
Is 27408 typical?
These comparisons use other indexed ZIP estimates, not utility tap samples. They help show local context without replacing a household test.
Greensboro median
41 PPM
About the same12 indexed ZIP readings · Range 40.5–41.9 PPM
North Carolina median
41 PPM
About the same519 indexed ZIP readings · Range 4.7–267.5 PPM
EPA benchmark screen
Contaminant snapshot
Available numerical results from associated SDWIS community water systems, compared with the applicable action level or federal MCL. Federal measured-value coverage is incomplete.
1 pass2 fail
Lead (PB90)
0 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2025
Copper (CU90)
1.63 mg/L
Reported Dec 31, 2025
Numerical coverage
3 comparable results
Missing values remain blank; absence is not treated as a pass.
Lead (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 0
EPA limit 0.015
Copper (90th percentile)
Measured in mg/L
Local 1.63
EPA limit 1.3
Combined Radium (-226 and -228)
Measured in PCI/L
Local 6
EPA limit 5
Share of EPA benchmark
100% line = listed limit
2026Q2
- All records
- 151
- Health-based
- 5
- Active health-based
- 1
| Contaminant or rule | System | Status | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Combined Radium (-226 and -228)Health-basedReported 6 PCI/L · MCL 5 | NC3041128 | Addressed | Apr 1, 2026through Jun 30, 2026 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | NC0241112 | Addressed | Jan 1, 2026 |
| Public Notice | NC0241145 | Resolved | Dec 19, 2025through Jun 8, 2026 |
| Public Notice | NC0241145 | Resolved | Dec 19, 2025through Jun 8, 2026 |
| Public Notice | NC0241124 | Addressed | Nov 19, 2025 |
| Public Notice | NC0241113 | Addressed | Nov 19, 2025 |
| Public Notice | NC0241145 | Addressed | Nov 19, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | NC0241112 | Addressed | Oct 1, 2025 |
| Public Notice | NC0241111 | Resolved | Aug 15, 2025through Nov 5, 2025 |
| Public Notice | NC0241111 | Resolved | Aug 15, 2025through Nov 5, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NC0241111 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Sep 25, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NC0241124 | Addressed | Jul 1, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NC0241113 | Addressed | Jul 1, 2025 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | NC0241145 | Resolved | Jul 1, 2025through Feb 13, 2026 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | NC0241105 | Resolved | Feb 1, 2025through Feb 28, 2025 |
| Chlorine | NC0241105 | Resolved | Feb 1, 2025through Feb 28, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | NC0241010 | Resolved | Jan 1, 2025through Sep 2, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | NC0241112 | Addressed | Jan 1, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | NC0241124 | Addressed | Jan 1, 2025 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | NC0241113 | Addressed | Jan 1, 2025 |
No reported violation does not prove that every contaminant was tested or absent; SDWIS measured values are incomplete and lag state records.
Solutions matcher
Your personalized water action plan
Matched to Greensboro ZIP 27408 using 40.5 PPM nearby hardness and 3 reported measurement benchmarks.
Drinking water protection
Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis System
Copper (90th percentile), Combined Radium (-226 and -228) have a measured benchmark flag or active health-based SDWIS record in this profile.
A certified multi-stage RO system targets a broader range of dissolved contaminants at the kitchen tap.
Explore under-sink filtrationAffiliate disclosure: we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases, at no added cost to you. Product matching is educational and does not replace certified water testing.
Nearby indexed reports
Compare ZIPs in Greensboro
Estimates can differ across a city because monitoring locations and associated systems differ.
Frequently asked
Water questions for Greensboro
Is tap water safe in Greensboro?+
EPA ECHO reports 1 active health-based violation among the associated community water systems. Review the affected utility's current notice and Consumer Confidence Report.
How hard is the water?+
Nearby USGS observations produce an estimate of 40.5 PPM, or 2.4 grains per gallon, classified as soft. This is not a household tap measurement.
Do I need a water softener?+
There is no high-hardness trigger in this profile. Confirm with a tap test before buying equipment.